Featuring both 4” x 6” and 12” x 12” monolithic lites of popular Vitro glass products, these kits have been carefully crafted by our architectural services team to provide you with a useful tool for determining how a glass might look and perform in a given environment—although we always recommend evaluating a full-size glass mock-up in situbefore moving forward with fabrication.

Low-E Design Kit

Why You Need It:According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Renewable Energy Buildings Energy Data Book (2012), 61% of a building’s total energy use consists of HVAC, ventilation and artificial lighting costs—all areas in which glass can make significant, long-term cost savings contributions. High performance low-e glasses greatly facilitate downsized mechanical equipment costs and reduced energy costs for continuous, long-term savings. Typically, the investment in a higher performing low-e coating will return its investment relatively quickly.

Trusted by architects for half a century, theSolarban®glass products included in this kit keep occupants comfortable and allow you to realize your boldest visions. They feature some of the highest light-to-solar gain (LSG) ratios in the industry and can be combined with a wide array of tinted glass options by Vitro for even better performance and aesthetic effects.

Tinted Glass Design Kit

Why You Need It: Tinted glass lowers the amount of sunlight, reduces glare and provides neutral-warm or -cool palette colors, from light to medium to dark. Tinted glass is ideal for any project that can benefit from added color that harmonizes with the overall building design and site features. Tinted glasses are also great for reducing glare. Some applications for tinted glass include IGUs, facades, safety glazing, spandrel glass and single-lite monolithic glass. Tinted glasses can be produced with low-e coatings for additional passive or solar control performance.

Specialty Glass Kit

Why You Need It: Interior glass is quickly becoming one of the most popular building materials in workplace design. (Read the February 2017 issue of Building Design + Construction to learn how interior glass can open offices to light and collaboration.) To satisfy increasing demand for brighter, aesthetically distinctive interior spaces, Starphire® glass by Vitro Glass can be manufactured with acid-etched patterns, mirror effects, back-painted colors and more.

What You’ll Get: This sample kit contains a range of glass products ideal for interior design applications. Twenty (20) 4'' x 6'' glass samples are included in assorted thicknesses, tints, colors, coatings and effects—manufactured by Vitro Architectural Glass and its alliance partners. Selections include: Starphire Ultra-Clear™ glass and Clarvista™ shower glass, as well as emerald green, bronze and a range of blue and gray tinted glasses by Vitro. The kit also includes colorful metallic and painted glasses from ICD Coatings and beautiful acid-etched translucent and mirror effect glasses from Walker Textures™.

Typically, when you order glass for countertops, tables, glass doors, room dividers or shower enclosures, the edge color gradually changes according to the thickness of the glass. If you look at the edge of almost any piece of standard clear furniture glass, you’ll notice a green cast. That effect is exaggerated as the glass becomes thicker or longer. But withStarphire®glass in higher thicknesses, you'll see a significantly reduced greening or distortion effect compared to that of traditional clear glass—this property makes it ideal for safety and security glazing, safety barriers, protective windows and doors.